Ellison Onizuka

First Asian American in space (January 24, 1985, STS-51-C)

Ellison Onizuka was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii, the son of Japanese immigrant plantation workers — a background rooted in the hard agricultural labor that brought many Japanese families to Hawaii in the early 20th century. He earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado in 1969, then served as a U.S. Air Force flight test engineer before NASA selected him as an astronaut in 1978. His first spaceflight came in January 1985, aboard mission STS-51-C, making him the first Asian American ever to travel to space — a genuine first that opened the door for Asian American astronauts who came after him. He was assigned as a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Challenger's next flight, STS-51-L, launched January 28, 1986. The Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all seven crew members, including Onizuka — one of the most devastating disasters in the history of American spaceflight. He was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004, and his memory remains closely tied to Hawaii and to Asian American aerospace history.

As a mission specialist and former Air Force flight test engineer, Onizuka's role involved operating Shuttle systems and experiments during missions — technical, hands-on spacecraft work built on his engineering background, not just riding along as a passenger.

He was the first Asian American to travel to space, in January 1985.He received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously in 2004.

Wikipedia; NASA

Photo: NASA · Public domain · Source

• Ellison Onizuka